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Tired Hazard seeking CL glory

Chelsea forward Hazard will captain Belgium when they take on France in Paris on Sunday and again in their vital European Qualifier against Wales in Cardiff on Friday.

The PFA and Football Writers’ player of the year is coming close to the end of a busy season for his club, who clinched the Premier League title but were disappointingly knocked out of the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain in the last-16.

And victory in the Champions League is something Hazard covets rather than, like this year, having to sit down and watch the Berlin final between Barcelona and Juventus with his international team-mates.

“It’s always good to see the final, but it’s better if you play in it. This season it was not for Chelsea, but I hope next season we will be in the final,” Hazard told Sky Sports.

Hazard arrived in Belgium after a post-season trip to Thailand and Australia with his club, and he is looking forward to a brief summer break before getting back to work for a bid to retain the Premier League title.

“I am a little bit tired but I am ready to play in both the games. I want to go on holiday but I still have one week to work and to win the games,” he added.

Captaincy is something new to Hazard, but it is a task he is already relishing and something he would like to experience with his club as well, despite knowing there is one big personality standing in his way at Stamford Bridge.

“For a young player it is always good. I have to show to the young players to give everything on the pitch, and off the pitch the same,” Hazard said.

“For me it will be the same, captain or not. I try to give my best and play my best football. I try to be the best all the time and show everybody how good I am.”

As for a desire to take over as Chelsea captain, he added: “Yes, but in my club it’s one guy, called John Terry. If I can one day, no problem, but it’s not my objective. My objective is to play and win trophies.”

Watch Belgium take on Wales live on Sky Sports 5 on Friday – coverage from Cardiff starts at 7:00pm.